Hypnosis

Has anyone undergone hypnotherapy? I want to know how it feels and if it helps. I know how hypnosis works and all, but I'm too scared to "not be in control"

Is it healthy to relive all those things again? Will it help? What if I don't want to answer a question? Will I be able to say no or lie about it?

well only a little bit, its just a cd i found that helps make me feel relax. I have the same hatred of "not being in control" and i don't ever feel like i'm not when i listen to the cd. I listen to it before bed time and it really helps me sleep. I'm not so sure how i'd feel if a live person did it for me though. That would kind make me feel uncomfortable

Thanks sammi!

I use hypnosis all the time be it just to sleep at night or with in my therapy sessions.

You will not be able to do anything you wouldn't normally do when fully aware

And

?You will be able to say anything that you normally would say when aware.

You will be able so say no but you will not be able to lie because lying is a conscious thought and hypnosis is basically funtioning at the unconscious level of thoughts. But there will be no need to worry about lying anyway.

If you are asked a question that you don't want to answer you will automatically become fully aware again basically instantaniously you will snap awake out of the hypnotic trance.

Besides a person who is lying about something does not submit themselves to being totally relaxed because they will be too worried about disclosing that lie. It is basically impossible to place a person who is lying about something under hypnosis to the level of unconscious level of awareness. For a person to reach the level of relaxation needed for memory work they need to be COMPLETELY comfortable with the process, the the therapy professional and so on.

If you think there is something you do not want disclosed and will need to lie about then now is not the right time for you to be using hypnosis during therapy.

As for healthy to relive those things - that depends on each individual person, sometimes remembering helps sometimes it doesn't.

Tanya,

I too am looking into hypnotherapy, for help with self esteem issues.....

The reason I would want to lie is because my hubby will be there... He doesn't want me to do it alone. And I'm afraid that the question of cheating might come up... I have to lie, if I don't answer. it will count as a yes!

I had one weak moment... I know it was wrong etc, but it was years ago and I don't want him to know...

Could you talk to T about that incident before the hypnosis? Then you can get T's advice about what you need to do now about that past indescretion, and T will know not to ask you about it under hypnosis.

For something that happened years ago when you were weak, depending on the circumstances at the time and the strength of your marriage since then, maybe it would be something you and your husband are able to deal with now if you are open about it, or maybe it won't be necessary to say anything to hubby. I think the pressure of keeping that secret all alone without support will wear on you though, and keep you from healing entirely. It might be something that T can help you with.

You might want to tell your therapist about your cheeting and that your husband does not know. that way the therapist won't ask you any questions about that while you are in that totally relaxed area of hypnosis.

I think talking to your T about the cheating before your sessions with hubby present is a good idea, especially if you don't want him to know.
That way your T can avoid that topic all together when your in session!!

Or maybe hubby could wait for you outside, if you tell him you can go through with it on your own?

I think the amin thing is that I'm just scared... yes, it does make sense to tell my T about it so he can avoid it... now why didn't I think of it? I mean it's the obvious thing to do.

First of, he is not technically my husband yet... getting married next year, but the word fianée is longer to write and it boils down to the same thing... I cheated on him when we were together for about a year... with an old friend, being confused who to choose etc. I only kissed him, and in that instant I knew that I made the right choice... I don't have issues about it... except hiding it! I won't change it because it gave me the security I needed.

I'm just scared of the hole hypnosis thing, what if my T asks inappropriate questions? I have only been to him once and he suggested hypnotherapy, but I think I am going to wait for the relationship to grow a little more... Now that I think of it, it would be very stupid of me to agree to hypnosis with someone I don't trust...

Ok, so I just answered my fears... I'm not going to do it, but I'll drag this thread up again when I decide to eventually.

Thanks for your support guys... You are all gems to me... to take some time to answer my questions.

Tanya, it sounds to me that you fiance doesn't trust you, or the T. Why would he want to be there? That doesn't sound right, nor "fair" to me Your T and you will decide what area of discovery you wish to follow. Hypnosis is NOT like a lie detector test with the T asking such personal questions expecting direct replies. If your T is skilled, he will put you at ease ahead of time with understanding your purpose for trying this therapy,and will remain within those parameters. Your fiance won't be able to interrupt with, Ask her if...

I wouldn't worry about lying while under hypnosis, nor about not giving an answer nor about the possibility of waking yourself up from an imposing question. (Which is not automatically the default reaction.) This is part of why your finance doesn't need to be there. A non answer can mean many things, one being the question wasn't posed in the correct format. If your fiance would go off on something he didn't understand, then he's too jealous and controlling. (I hope he isn't.) Ignoring a question is easy under hypnosis. You don't have to say or do anything you don't want to, and wouldn't IRL. IF you choose to want to wake at that time, you can express that desire. It's up to you.

Hypnosis does not delve into all the secrets and unanswered questions in your life. You can use it to reveals aspects of your life that you wish to look at... often once your brain has processed something traumatic, it can also process other events in the same vein without you having to review them first.

IMO hypnosis is best used to help you be ABLE to process traits or memories in the future. For example, to help, through post hypnotic suggestion, to be calmer when...in a situation you are anxious normally. It can be used to help you learn and remember how to do something, such as not block the T's normal assistance in session. I also use it to help me begin to sleep, and for pain management. To think of it as a cure-all for memory processing isn't being fair to you, and the natural process of working through your problems and learning coping skills. TC

Thank you Sky, I appreciate your honesty!

I did a few hypnosis sessions. Hypnosis is just relaxation techinques.

My counselor began hypnosis by saying . . . "Sit back, relax your body, close your eyes, inhale, exhale, roll your eyes up and hold them up there, with your eyes closed and looking up, inhale and as you exhale count backwards outloud from 21 to 0."

Heck, I can't count outloud backwards and exhale.

I barely counted down to 17 . . . heehee.

My counselor was like . . . "How do you feel? Do you feel relaxed?"

I was like . . . "Yeah, a little. I feel light-headed."

I was just agreeing with him. I was really scared and wanted to stop closing my eyes. I was scared of the attention.

I had a good counselor because we stopped pursuing the hypnosis because I was scared.

He is world-renown for hypnosis.

LL and I do it the same way only we don't count. we work from head to toe or toe to head purposely relaxing that body part. and she doesn't tell me to roll my eyes up. just sit back and relax and let my eyes close as they want to when they want to. basically making the relaxation visualization natural without my having to think about what to do other than listen to her and let my body follow along relaxing.

Just out of curiosity of what would happen I closed my eyes and trying to roll them upwards and my eye lids opened. I can't close my eyes and look up at the same time. my eye muscles don't work that way when my eyes look up my eye lids also go up. LOL I can look from side to side with my eyes closed and down but not up. Now I can tell I am going to be walking around trying to accomplish this. LOL

Don't walk when you try it!!!! Thanks jennie and myself!

LOL definately not or I will need petunia smack into the wall smilie. and we will have to add seeing stars to it. LOL

Your welcome Tanya. hang in there.